‘Since childhood, Sankranthi has been all about flying kites and watching movies’

Sporting a white shirt, distressed denims and sunglasses, Sharwanand exuded the air of a seasoned

patang baaz

when he turned up for a special

Sankranthi photoshoot

for Hyderabad Times. The weather was perfect for kite flying with a clear sky and a cool breeze blowing. Sharwa’s kite runners were a group of children from the neighbourhood, who were waiting restlessly to get their hands on the kites and charkas. Bowled over by the unbridled enthusiasm of the lil’ ones, the actor greeted them all with a bright smile and asked if they know who he is. ‘Nooooooo….’, they chimed in unison, as the actor chuckled. He quickly introduced himself in a bid to break the ice. The children though were only interested in getting on with the kite flying. And Sharwa happily obliged.

“Can we please start flying the kite,” squealed a little girl. Soon a mini brawl broke out as the eager kids jostled to grab the patang that Sharwa was tying the knot on. But the situation came under control the moment they heard Sharwa say, “The most well behaved child will get a chocolate, so no fights.” Thus
began a patang session that was filled with loads of fun and laughter. Excerpts from a chat that ensued on the sidelines of all the kite-flying action.

You Seem Like A Pro When It Comes To Handling Children...
(Smiles) I love children. With them what you see is what you get. Honestly, I was very nervous about this afternoon, ’cos I haven’t touched a kite in so many years. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to get one air borne. That would’ve been such a flop show, even though these kids know nothing about my celebrity status (laughs). But thankfully, it all came back. watching the joy on their faces made my day. It was so much fun.

What did Sankranthi mean to you as a young boy growing up in Hyderabad?
More than anything else, Sankranthi has been all about flying kites. I would look forward to it all year long. The Old City is where you get the best manjas, kites and charakas. And the experience of going to Charminar with a big gang of friends is still fresh in my mind. On festival day, we would all gather on the terrace to fly kites. The ambience would be carnivalesque with music blaring from the speakers, people screaming their lungs out every time we cut someone’s kite... those were the days.
For most

Telugu cinema

fans though, it isn’t Sankranthi if they don’t watch a movie...
Oh yes, for me too. In fact, I’ve got four days off from shooting for Sankranthi this time, so the plan is to chill with friends and family and watch the two big festival
releases — Sarileru Neekevaru and Ala Vaikunthapurramloo. Personally, the festival has been very lucky for me as an actor. Two of my biggest hits, Express Raja and Sathamanam Bhavati released during Sankranthi. It’s a festival that has brought good tidings for me.

So what does 2020 have in store for you?
I’ve got lots to look forward too, it’s going to be a big year. I had only two releases in the last two years but currently I’m working on three exciting projects. The first one is the Telugu remake of Tamil blockbuster 96. It’s a beautiful love story of two high school sweethearts from the batch of 1996, who run into each other at a reunion after over two decades. Samantha plays the female lead in the movie and acting with her was an incredible experience. She is one of the best artistes in the business today. Then there’s an ambitious Tamil-Telugu bilingual, that revolves around time travel. Ritu Varma plays the female lead in the romantic fantasy that also features Amala Akkineni, who plays my mother. And lastly, there’s Sreekaram, a family entertainer where I play a farmer. The films raises some pertinent questions. Why can’t a farmer’s son be a farmer? Why aren’t we proud of being called a farmer? Why are farmers looked down upon while we celebrate engineers and doctors? The film will definitely make everyone think. Apart from these, I have three more films which I will start shooting this year. So it’s going to be hectic year.

In a career spanning 15 years, you have tasted success as an actor but stardom has proven to be elusive. How do you look at yourself as an actor?
Honestly, even I don’t know what kind of an actor I am exactly. In my initial days when I did films like Engeyum Eppodhum and Prasthanam, I was labelled as a ‘serious actor’. After films like Run Raja Run, Express Raja, Mahanubhavudu and Sathamanam Bhavati people started to say, ‘Oh now you’re a yuppy urban hero’.
I strongly believe that you get what’s in your destiny — you don’t choose scripts, the scripts choose you. I have had a beautiful journey and can’t really complain about anything.

Is there love in the air?
(Laughs) I’m single and not ready to mingle. I have my hands full with movies. I’ve been working non stop and the last holiday I took was during Diwali. More than a girlfriend, what I really need right now is a holiday. I’m hoping to make the most of my Sankranthi break.